Theater Review: ‘The Neverending Story’ at the Harwich Jr. Theatre

Saturday

Aug 16, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Ellen Petry Whalen

The test of a good story is whether you get lost in it. Michael Ende’s 1979 novel, “The Neverending Story” plays upon this idea, with the addition of a young reader being able to magically affect the tale’s ending. Harwich Junior Theatre charmingly recreates the internationally acclaimed story’s mythical worlds and harrowing adventures in impressively vibrant detail.

Colin Bourget plays Bastian, the small boy who escapes his many troubles through reading. After stumbling on an old bookstore, Bastian steals “The Neverending Story.” Upon opening it, he is quickly drawn into the land of Fantastica, where a vast, black emptiness, called The Nothing, is taking over the magical world.

Fionn Pina Parker plays the storybook’s reluctant hero, Atreyu, who the ruling Childlike Empress has called upon to save Fantastica. With his trusted horse Artax, portrayed by Brian C. Williams, Atreyu faces many dangers, and it ultimately becomes clear that Bastian is not an idle reader, but plays a key role in stopping The Nothing.

James P. Byrne expertly directs the complicated play, developing the richness of each curious land and its unearthly inhabitants.

There are many memorable characters in the 90-minute adventure, and the large cast handles the challenge of portraying them with aplomb, such as: Grace Barrett playing the many-legged and hungry spider Ygramul; Jon Cornet as the intimidating werewolf, relentlessly tracking Atreyu; Teagan O’Sullivan and Audrey Pugh humorously portraying the wise but apathetic turtle Morla, and Kevin Stanley Guiadek as the commanding centaur, Chairon.

Just like the nonstop-reader Bastian, the audience is easily drawn into the dramatic story that HJT has so artistically brought to life.